April 8, 2024 from Medscape
In recent years, the intersection of genomics and nutrition has sparked innovative research methods that could transform how we understand diet and its impact on health. One approach involves analyzing the DNA in human feces to explore dietary habits and their health implications. This method, led by Dr. Lawrence David, associate professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke University, holds promising potential for both research and clinical applications.
Dr. David’s research focuses on the undigested DNA from our food that ends up in our feces. “A decent fraction of that DNA” goes undigested and is excreted, explains Dr. David. By sequencing this DNA, his team can reconstruct a person’s diet in detail. This approach is not only more reliable than self-reported food diaries, which are prone to inaccuracies, but it also provides a direct link to health outcomes like obesity.
The average person’s stool contains DNA from ten to twenty plant species and three or four animal types, with some individuals showing up to 40 different types at any given time. This data is instrumental in developing personalized nutrition plans and understanding the complex relationship between what we eat and our microbiome health.
Dr. Neil Stollman, chief of gastroenterology at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, highlights a common issue with traditional dietary assessments: “Patients report the fruit they ate yesterday but not the M&Ms.” This bias in dietary reporting is one reason why fecal DNA analysis is so valuable—it provides an accurate and unbiased record of dietary intake, essential for patients at risk of nutrition-associated diseases.
The method involves collecting fecal samples using a non-invasive process where participants use a plastic collection cup and then transfer a sample to a tube for analysis. In the lab, the team employs methods like the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify and quantify the DNA present, focusing on plant DNA found in chloroplasts.
The implications of this research are vast. For example, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. David and his colleague Briana Petrone showed different plant diversity in the diets of obese children compared to their leaner counterparts. This finding challenges our understanding of dietary diversity and its role in health, suggesting that not all plant species contribute equally to our well-being.
Looking forward, Dr. David’s lab is interested in expanding their DNA database and exploring global dietary trends, potentially offering new insights into how climate change affects diet diversity. Such studies could revolutionize dietary recommendations and interventions, particularly for conditions influenced by diet, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
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